I would also believ that the string tension etc that would cause said precession would impact a grooved bearing more considering it is locked in and forcing against the walls of the groove at all times. Whereas the flat would provide give in the movement of the string beforce that force is applied tonthe axle.
Perhaps if you didn’t use the centering, you would have learned the unconscious correcting quicker. But this again shows how subjective the whole thing. For you, tilt is an issue. For lots of players it’s not. There is no one answer which has been my point all along.
Side note: some players like the sensitive input for plane control. Bearing isn’t the only factor though. How the transition from the guts to the catch zone are designed affects this as well.
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Yes, you’re right, string tension can have an impact, which is why I’ve always been careful to restore neutral string tension when trying to narrow down the cause of the behavior(s) I’m seeing.
Agreed!
My point has never been that my experience is everyone’s experience. My point has always been that my experience can’t be summarily dismissed just because it isn’t the same as the majority’s experience. As I’ve mentioned, I’m not the only beginner on these forums to have the same problem with the same solution.
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Totally agree. And that’s why we focus on making the bearing easy to swap. 
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Precession caused by the string can only be a result of 2 things I believe. Tension of the string causing a twisting motion on the axle. Or pressure against the wall of the yoyo. In that case it tends to be user error. Just my speculating.
Something I’ve come to appreciate very much. One Drop yoyos + centering bearings = best yoyos in my entire collection!
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Appreciate your support
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Which is more likely when the string begins the throw over to the side, already in contact with one of the walls…
I totally agree. A flat could leave you in that scenario. I have jsut never experienced this to be an issue.
However, I did say a while back, that effect can be an impact if left spinning in a sleeper. Which while learning new tricks we often pause and think it through.
Edit: The main point of my argument is that a competition routine has so many movements and redirections that I don’t believe there would actually be a difference made by the bearing as a whole. However like we said before, percieved differences can make a significant impact.
I’ve been wanting to post a more recent photo of my One Drop collection, but I keep getting more of them which forestalls the taking of said photo… (I have three more on the way as we speak, two of which are BST buys). If only I could stop buying One Drops for just a little a while…! 
In the world of yo-yos, precession will occur when the string is pulling on the yoyo from anywhere other than the center of its axis. This is why string centering bearings reduce it.
This seems to be in direct opposition to Gentry’s feelings on the subject, at least as it pertains to his own routines, his own skills, and the yoyos he uses. It makes me wonder how much I–or any of us–should take the word of a world champion on such matters.
Oh not at all. We are talking about a bearing not the design of a yoyo or the skill of the thrower. Those have the greatetest impact. I am saying that if Gentry swapped in a 10 ball into his WA he would still slay and we would never be able to tell.
My understanding is that he has expressed the opposite view.
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He may have I never heard him compare a flat bearing vs a centering. But I asure you he would still slay and we would not know the difference.
Edit: but he would feel a difference. He spend over 8hrs a day of concentrated practice with the same setup. Any change he could tell the difference.
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In one of the most recent YYE interviews he stated he doesn’t feel much of a difference between bimetals and his shutters despite the bump in cost which is why he isn’t a big fan of bimetals. He also stated in that interview that he doesn’t see much difference between types of centering bearings and would compete with “anything that’s not flat” So he’s definitely said flats are not up to par with his standards, coming from a guy that’s really not too picky about what he uses.
Ben McPhee from YYF also seemed quite certain when he said before that Gentry most likely would not have won nationals that one year with a Replay Pro if he had used a flat bearing.
Colin Beckford, another top player has also stated that he wouldn’t feel nearly as confident on stage if he were using flats and that they do make a quite noticeable difference for him.
Vilmos Zoltan Kiss has stated he doesn’t mind playing his VTWO with a flat casually but if he were to compete he swaps it out for a centering.
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Thanks Andy. I believe them whole heartedly. When competing confidence goes a long way. At their level everything makes a difference to them. No argueing there.
I am only making the point that there is probably not as much an impact as we all make it out to be. Or if it truly has an impact on our play. However if one feels more confident or comfertable they will naturally do better. If you feel like a flat will handicap you, you will be handicapped by it.
If Gentry felt like the bimetal would be better, he probably would not win without it. It would affect him.
I have a multiple 3a pairs so I’ve literally compared the difference side by side with basically identical yoyos. It does make a difference. Especially for extended combos and horizontal. Most significant difference I notice is with flats my combos aren’t as long because spin time is reduced and the yoyo dies out much easier under low RPMs. The yoyo tilting and turning a little easier is also another downside I notice with flats.
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